Device for stabilizing full lower denture



March 6, 1962 T. P. MICHAELIDES DEVICE FOR STABILIZING FULL LOWER DENTURE Filed Jan. 2, 1959 nite States This invention relates to a device for stabilizing a full lower denture.

Heretofore, as is well known in the dental profession,

the problem of providing a satisfactory, comfortable lower denture has been one of the most diflicult of the many problems encountered by the profession. This is partly for physiological and partly psychological reasons. Physiologically speaking, the forces that tend to displace the lower denture are greater than those which tend to keep it in place, especially when there is an extensive resorption of the ridge, so the area covered by the denture and from which it has to gain retention, is greatly reduced. There is a natural lifting action on the denture when the person talks, eats, laughs, coughs, sneezes or the like, which can be and is most annoying and uncomfortable.

Psychologically speaking, the problem resides in the fact that the wearer is usually over-expectant and is not prepared nor conditioned for the unsatisfactory adaptation that may unavoidably result because of physiological reasons.

Various solutions to these problems have been attempted in the past. Through the addition of weight in the form of lead or the like efforts have been made to make the denture sit in position better. Opposing magnets have even been tried so as to repel the lower denture from the more stable upper denture. Still further efforts have been made to solve the problem through the use of metal devices. But by and large these efforts have been unsuccessful and have merely created additional problems.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide a device which will solve the aforementioned problems by stabilizing the lower denture in a completely satisfactory, simple and inexpensive manner.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device which will simplify the burden now cast upon the dental technician or the dentist of constructing a satisfactory adaptation in each and every case. This has been an impossible burden for the reason that even after the use of the best known techniques, it has often been necessary to rebase or reline the lower denture, hoping for a better adaptation. With the present invention the stabilization of the full lower denture is possible in each instance.

It is a still further object of the invention to use the tongue and the muscles thereof as a stabilizer to keep the lower denture in position. Heretofore the tongue as well as the muscles of the checks have been responsible for the displacement or shifting of the denture during talking, eating or the like. With the present invention, however, the tongue will serve as a brake against the movement of the denture and the presence of the tongue will be converted from a detriment to an asset.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a device of the character described which will eliminate the necessity of using adhesive powders and related expedients, and which will at the same time stabilize the lower denture without interfering with the free movement of the tongue. That is to say, the invention will not at all impair the full effectiveness of the tongue and of the cheek muscles in connection with talking, eating or the like.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a device that will be tolerant to and not harm the flesh or atent tissue of the mouth, and that will provide a sort of yielding cushion for the tongue.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings- FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a full lower denture with the invention mounted in position.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view thereof looking towards the front.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the invention before it is mounted.

In the drawings the full lower denture shown generally at 10 has the teeth 11 set in the artificial gum 12 in conventional manner. Before the invention is located or placed in position on the lower gum (not shown) the denture should be completely polished. Then three grooves 13, 14 and 15 are formed with a bur or the like on the lingual surface of the denture. One of these grooves will be formed on each side, left and right, under the occlusal surface of the first molar, preferably just under the porcelain or acrylic tooth. The third groove will be formed in the midline from the lower border of the lingual side of the denture (to a distance of some 4 to 5 mm.)

Each of these grooves should be large and deep enough to receive therewithin the metal caps or anchors 16 that are mounted at the free ends of the invention as well as at the juncture point of said ends. By reason of this embedding of the caps only the tubes 18 will be exposed to the action of the tongue.

Each of the two tubes is formed of plastic or of some other yieldable, resilient material that will not damage the tissue or flesh. Within each tube is disposed a piece of nylon or the like cord 19, this being of stiffer material than the plastic or the like in order to retain the device in place. It will be observed that each of the cords is spaced from the inner walls of the tube, i.e. is concentric thereto so that stretching, deforming or yielding room is allowed the tube upon engagement therewith of the tongue. In this way the device provides a cushion for the tongue.

The metal caps or anchors 16 of the device are embedded in the grooves 13, 14 and 15 in the denture through the use of a self-curing resin, and when so mounted, the stabilizer makes a curve of the order shown in the drawings, i.e. will have a convexity towards the mid-line.

In actually mounting or placing the device in its use position the mid-line part will first be stabilized. It may be considered wise to temporarily place the caps 16 of the device in the grooves 13, 14 and 15 through the use of a sticky wax to find the most comfortable position for the tongue, and the best stabilization of the denture. Once this is determined the wax may be replaced by selfcuring acrylic or the like which will then be polished with small brushes and pumice.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims are also desired to be protected.

The invention claimed is:

l. The combination with a lower denture including an artificial gum, said gum having openings formed in its lingual surface, of a device for stabilizing said denture, said device comprising a substantially V-shaped element having its ends anchored in said openings, said V-shaped element including a tubular portion of resilient material and a cord of stiffer material mounted concentrically within said portion and spaced apart therefrom.

2. The combination with a lower denture including an artificial gum, said gum having openings formed in its lingual surface, of a device for stabilizing said denture, said device comprising a substantially V-shaped element having caps formed at its three ends, said caps being received and anchored in said openings, said V-shaped element also having a tubular portion of resilient material and a cord of relatively stiff material mounted concentrically within said portion and spaced apart therefrom.

3. The combination with a lower denture including an artificial gum, said gum having openings formed in its lingual surface, of a device for stabilizing said denture, said device comprising a pair of tubes of resilient mate rial connected at one end to form substantially a V, metal caps enclosing said connected ends and the free ends of each tube respectively, said caps being wholly received and anchored in said openings, and a cord of relatively stiif. nonmetallic material mounted within each tube extending substantially from end to end thereof and spaced apart from the inner wall thereof.

4. A device for stabilizing a denture having openings upon its inner surfaces at the front as well as at the sides thereof; said stabilizer comprising a tube formed of resilient material bent upon itself into permanent V-shape, a cord of relatively stifi nonmetallicrnaterial enclosed in said tube extending from one end to the other thereof and of less diameter than the internal diameter of said tube, the ends of said cord secured at the apex of the V as well as at said tube ends, the cord being normally spaced from the Walls of said tube when the arms of the latter are substantially straight and will engage the wall of said tube when the arms are bent laterally thereby to increase the bending resistance of said arms, the ends of said arms adapted to seat in said denture openings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

